By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Eighth-grader Harper Kuehne highlighted a four-run third inning and hurled a complete game as Eastridge outlasted Hilton 11-10 in Section V Softball action on Tuesday.
Kuehne’s two-out double plated a pair of runs as the Lancers took a lead that they did not surrender.
Tied at two, Carly Brockman led the inning with a bunt single. Faith Bauer beat out an infield hit. After a passed ball, Brockman came home on Victoria Dannenfeldt’s sacrifice fly.
Nijeylie Torres worked a two-out walk, and Kuehne followed with a drive into the left center gap.
“Keeping that momentum going was key,” Eastridge head coach Morgan Baird said. “When we can find that right there, that’s exactly what we want to see.”
Kuehne scored on Imani Kinlock’s infield single for a 6-2 Eastridge lead.
The Lancers added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth before Faith Bauer sparked a three-run sixth.
With Brockman aboard on an error, Bauer doubled to right field to bring in the first run of the inning. Victoria Dannenfeldt followed with an RBI single, and Kuehne capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to bring in Dannenfeldt for an 11-6 Eastridge lead.
Faith Bauer makes the play from short for @ERidgeLancers pic.twitter.com/87lNngJFNs
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 3, 2022
Bauer finished 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI to lead the Lancers.
“She is an incredible leader,” Baird said. “She’s always picking someone else up if they need it. Her defense is so consistent. You can’t beat that. It’s always there.”
Dannenfeldt went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in the game. Brockman and Kuehne both scored twice. while Neveah Bunch walked and crossed home once. Emma Johnson drove in two with a double. Rae Diamond was 2-for-4.
“As long as everybody is getting out there doing their job and fighting with a lot of grit, that’s really our key,” Baird stated. “Calm but feisty, that’s how we like to play. That’s our focus.”
Kuehne struck out three for the win, the second in three games for the Lancers (6-8).
“I love seeing the fight from start to finish,” Baird said of her hurler. “She’s improved so much from last year as a seventh grader.”
Victoria Dannenfeldt makes the play from third for the final out. @ERidgeLancers 11 Hilton 10 pic.twitter.com/l58zMX1K7B
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 3, 2022
Hilton (4-8) scored four runs in the seventh inning and had the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Morgan Brozak started the frame with a base hit and scored on a Chrissy Showers single. One out later, Taylor Wandtke reached on a hit by pitch, and Maddie Murphy loaded the bases with a walk. Wandtke and Murphy came home when Lucy Murphy reached on an error.
Abby Hahm grabs the fly ball in right field. pic.twitter.com/acWnSbWNun
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 3, 2022
Brozak and Showers both finished 2-for-3 on the day. Showers drove in two runs and scored another. Maddie Murphy reached base four times with a pair of hits and two walks. The seventh-grader scored two runs. Ninth-grader Paige Siciliano went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
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